The Sports Bank’s college basketball season previews undergo a face lift this season. Rather than counting down the top 111 teams in 111 days, we will go conference-by-conference. I’ve already counted down the Pac-12 and Big 12 now we turn our attention to the SEC.
After last season’s below five hundred finish, the seat is starting to warm up for Anthony Grant as Alabama Crimson Tide head coach. With only one NCAA Tournament in his five years at ‘Bama, another mediocre season could cost Grant his job.
ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Last Season: T-10th, 7-11 in SEC, 13-19 overall
Predicted SEC Finish: 8th
Projected Depth Chart
C: Jimmie Taylor (So)
PF: Shannon Hale (So)/Michael Kessens (So)
G/F: Levi Randolph (Sr)/Rodney Cooper (Sr)/Riley Norris (Fr)/Jeff Garrett (Fr)
SG: Ricky Tarrant (Jr)/Christophe Varidel (Sr)/Devin Mitchell (Fr)
PG: Retin Obasohan (Jr)/Justin Coleman (Fr)
Gone: PG-Trevor Releford, C-Carl Engstrom, PF/C-Nick Jacobs (transfer-Georgia Tech), SG-Algie Key (transfer-Washburn)
2014-2015 Outlook:
In order for Alabama to keep Grant’s job safe, they must replace the leadership and scoring of Trevor Releford. Retin Obasohan assumes the full-time point guard position and was a solid contributor last season as a sophomore. He did undergo off-season ankle surgery so his health may be a concern early in the season.
Flanking Obasohan on the wing should be Tulane transfer Ricky Tarrant and either Levi Randolph or Rodney Cooper. Tarrant is a big-time scorer who should help fill some of the offensive void left behind by Releford. Randolph and Cooper are versatile wings who have not excelled at ‘Bama like many hoped but are still difference makers on the defensive end.
Chaminade transfer, Christophe Varidel made headlines with his 42-point outburst versus Baylor in the opening round of last year’s Maui Invitational. The former FGCU shooting guard should provide some scoring punch off the Tide bench which also features freshmen, Justin Coleman and Devin Mitchell who will compete for minutes at guard.
The transfer of Nick Jacobs opens up playing time in the middle for sophomores Shannon Hale and Jimmie Taylor. Hale is a solid scorer in the paint while Taylor brings more of a defensive presence inside. Longwood transfer Michael Kessens should certainly factor into the frontcourt rotation and may actually beat out Hale or Taylor for a starting spot. He averaged 13.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in his lone collegiate season. Combo forward Riley Norris may also factor into the equation since he can stretch defenses with his perimeter shooting.
Ready for an amazing stat? ‘Bama finished 0-15 away from Tuscaloosa last season. 0-15! Grant needs to find a winning recipe on the road in order for them to finish in the upper half of the SEC and have any hope of sniffing an NCAA Tournament berth.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/20 vs. Southern Miss
11/24 vs. Iowa State (CBE Hall of Fame Classic)
11/25 vs. Maryland/Arizona State (CBE Hall of Fame Classic)
12/2 vs. USF
12/6 at Xavier
12/16 at Wichita State
12/28 vs. UCLA
OTHER SEC PREVIEWS:
BIG 12 PREVIEWS:
#1 KANSAS JAYHAWKS
#2 TEXAS LONGHORNS
PAC-12 PREVIEWS:
#1 ARIZONA WILDCATS
#4 UCLA BRUINS
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.